Luke 14:1, 7-14

Meditatio (Reflecting)

For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Oratio (Responding)

Like Yesterday we discussed God’s financial calculus, today we confront gods social calculus. To better explain I believe that I have to touch on the fall of Satan. When the God created the universe he started with the angels (and satan was first among the angels), then the universe of planets and starts, and then the animals, and finally man. In Satan’s mind those things that were created first were greater than those things created last. So he thought that after god Himself, that he Satan was the most powerful creature in the universe, and indeed he was. But What he did not understand was that God made everything in the heaven and earth for the love and pleasure of mankind. So when God showed satan and all of the angels his plan to lower himself in the incarnation, and become man, and create a way for them to redeem themselves through the death and resurrection of man, it was at that point that satan and a third of the angels fell from grace rejecting god, and as satan said, “I will not serve”. So for God his plan is to have the powerful and strong, to have the humility and kindness to put themselves last, and lift up the lowly. And for those that are lowly to have the patience and hope to trust in the promise of god, so that they can be exaulted in heaven. But why then is the world not like this, one word is the answer, Satan. He is the lord of this world, and the calculus of the powerful is the only one that he understands, and since he is the temptor of all of us, his influence is strong in this world. But why doesn’t this work, because if the powerful are always exploiting the weak, and fighting with the other strongmen of the world, only pain and suffering results. But in the calculus of God, the humble and the meek lift up everyone. That is the point of god’s plan and His Justice. That is what we should strive for. Because if you make it to heaven, nothing short of this standard will be excepted. Dont get me wrong, I do not believe that there will be humility police in heaven, but instead, the glory of god in the beatific vision will be so powerful that you will not be able to do anything less than give your very best, to love your very best, and to serve others, your very best. Let us strive for that even now, and prepare our hearts for the eternity of heaven.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Oh lord, help me today to be humble, to put others first, and to seek your justice in this world, and not that of the evil one.